'God does not discriminate'
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
BY CANDICE LEIGH HELFAND
Star-Ledger Staff

A week before the grand opening of Plainfield's first hip-hop house of worship, Church 'N' the Hood, the Rev. LaDana Clark -- also known as "Lady Jam" -- sat in the basement of the Grace Episcopal Church, the place that would soon welcome her future parishioners.

She was calm despite the obvious excitement of others in the room, members of the community dedicated to helping with the church's debut. She smiled and listened as they talked about their hopes for the mission. Then she started to talk.

"God does not discriminate -- no matter if you're Jewish, Muslim, black, white, gay, straight, God loves you," she began, her voice quiet, but earnest.

Being gay and Christian don't have to be mutually exclusive events, Clark said.

"I am a Christian lesbian," she said, her sexual orientation a sticking point for some churches she has attempted to join. "For years, I felt ostracized because of that. But I've realized that everyone is entitled to the holy hook-up." the rest